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It's the middle of the night, and Scott knows he should be asleep, not staring at his cell phone like it has the answer to everything. He especially shouldn't be staring at Derek's number, his thumb hovering over the call button. Derek's only been gone a week, and Scott didn't think he'd miss him so much. After all, he had hardly noticed the lack of Derek's presence in his life this past summer.

But without Derek in town, Scott feels like something's missing. He wonder if it's just that darkness Deaton warned him about, but Scott can't help but feel like it's not. It's Derek's presence he's missing. Maybe it's an alpha thing. Maybe he's missing Derek because he feels like he's pack.

And it's almost funny that Scott feels like that, now that Derek's already left, when that's more or less what Derek's been after with him all along. Scott sighs, closes his eyes, and jabs the call button. He puts the phone to his ear, waiting and hoping Derek will pick up.

Scott glances at the time and winces; maybe three in the morning isn't the best time to decide to make this phone call. “No, it's nothing,” Scott reassures quickly. “I forgot that most normal people are asleep right now.”

Derek snorts. “We're far from normal,” he replies, sounding a bit more awake now. “Don't you have school in the morning? Why are you awake and calling me?”

“Can't sleep,” Scott answers, almost truthfully. “And I- Well, I guess I miss you. It's like I can feel an empty space where you should be.”

Derek falls silent, and Scott worries his bottom lip as he waits for some kind of reply. “That...comes with being an alpha,” he finally says. “When you have a beta that's far away.”

Scott's brows furrow. “Are you my beta now?” he asks impulsively. “I mean, I'm not forcing you. If you don't want to be in my pack, I won't hound you.”

“You mean, like I did to you?” Derek questions with a dark chuckle. “Maybe I'll join your pack, if I come back to Beacon Hills.”

“I'd understand if you didn't come back,” Scott says. “But if you do, there's always a place for you here. Don't forget that, okay?”

“Thanks,” Derek murmurs sincerely. “You're going to be a great alpha, Scott.”

The dial tone sounds in Scott's ear, and he ends the call, placing his phone on his bedside table. The emptiness inside him aches less now, and Scott can feel sleep calling his name. He curls up under the sheets of his bed, soon asleep and dreaming of the day his pack will be whole with Derek back in town.